Madeleine McCann Update: Criticism Causes Parents To Delete Twitter Account

The parents of Madeleine McCann have deleted the Twitter account associated with the search for the missing child, after reportedly attracting criticism for blocking an account associated with the search for another missing child. The NZ Herald reports that Kate and Gerry McCann (who are represented by the admin of their social media accounts) have decided to direct their efforts to Facebook, after drama erupted last week on their Twitter account.

The latest news surrounds the account set up in the search for missing child Ben Needham, who vanished back in July of 1991 from the Greek island of Kos. Over the course of the past 24 years Ben Needham’s mother has dedicated her life to the search for her child, who still hasn’t been found after all these years. The person who manages the Madeleine McCann Twitter account reportedly “blocked” Ben Needham’s account last week, which drew a load of criticism from numerous users of social media, which attracted the attention of worldwide media sources. The reason given by Kate and Gerry — through their admin — was that they did not want to be associated with people who followed Ben Needham’s account, and people the account had followed in return. This, in turn, attracted even more criticism and even more media coverage.

Ben’s mother has spoken out about her son’s search account being blocked, stating that she has never said anything personally against Kate and Gerry McCann. She’s also stated that their social media accounts follow back everyone who follows them as part of their efforts to spread the word about his unsolved disappearance.

A post made on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page addressed the decision to delete the Twitter account.

“After talking with Kate and Gerry yesterday, we have decided to delete our Twitter account and focus on Facebook. They agree it’s time to remove ourselves from a place that allows so much toxic content to be directed at us and does not permit us the ability to protect ourselves from people who want to damage the search for Madeleine.”

The statement goes on to blame criticism of random Twitter accounts, declaring that they don’t want to align themselves with accounts that associate with those who criticize them. This has, of course, attracted even more criticism from users of social media.


I think all these pro McCann accounts are k+G also the FB ‘webmaster’ who feels she has to tell us after every post, no it’s u Kate #mccann

— Hayley (@Im_halez) October 6, 2015

@LoveRandomleigh @19Barbara57 @alfibab3 shown their true colours & #mccann‘s are right behind it all. Kate’s anger needs to be reigned in — lisalulabelle (@lisalulabelle) October 6, 2015

@LoveRandomleigh @19Barbara57 #mccann are their own worst enemy, narcissism, lies & paid for censorship. Money talks, espcially other ppl’s

— lisalulabelle (@lisalulabelle) October 6, 2015

Kate and Gerry McCann have been the targets of criticism since news of their daughter’s disappearance hit media headlines in 2007. Public suspicion against the parents of Madeleine McCann has not only been fueled by their own odd behavior, but by the fact that both Kate and Gerry had once been declared suspects in the case. Also, Portuguese authorities (along with global mainstream media) have published a plethora of facts in the case that seem to indicate that Kate and Gerry may have had some kind of role in Maddie’s disappearance. Of course, they have never been arrested or charged with any crimes associated with the missing child’s case. Nonetheless, public suspicion against them remains strong — especially on social media.

Do you think it was wise for the McCann Twitter account to participate in this latest drama? Will the deletion of Maddie’s Twitter account further hinder efforts to find her, or were Kate and Gerry “in the right” for focusing their attention to Facebook? Regardless of the decisions made on Twitter this past week, it’s safe to say that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains a topic of division among numerous people.

Photo: Wikipedia